Sunday 9 October 2016

Of the Step called Jéte

ELEMENTS OF THE ART OF DANCING; WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL FIGURES IN THE QUADRILLE. By ALEXANDER STRATHY TEACHER OF DANCING. EDINBURGH: Published in 1822.

"Of the Step called Jéte, performed in the Fifth Position.

THIS step is derived from the Assemblé, and, to perform it, follow the same rule as for the Assemblé in the fifth position.

The body being placed as directed for the deportment, the feet in the fifth position, balance the body entirely on the leg that is before, which will disengage the foot that is behind; bend on the leg that is before, and at same time raise the foot that is behind on the point, which will make the knee fold a little; keep the knee well turned outward; extend it by sliding the foot on the point, just to the second position; then raise yourself on the foot you stand upon, and at the same time slide the other foot from the second position, into the fifth position before; but, instead of falling on both feet, as in the Assemblé, fall entirely on the foot that is before, and at the same moment raise the foot that is behind, by folding the knee to the side, the point of the foot turned directly down, and kept near the floor, but without touching it. Keep the knees turned to the side, in order to preserve the outward position.

The foot that is behind being now disengaged, slide it upon the point to the second position, bending at same time on the other leg, in order to repeat the step with the other foot, and so on alternately.
In order to perform this step behind, observe the same rule as to perform it before. Balance the body entirely on the leg that is behind, which will disengage the foot that is before; bend on the leg that is behind, and at the same time raise the foot that is before to the point; slide it to the second position, gradually extending the knee and instep, as you bend on the other leg; then raise yourself on the point of the foot you rest on, and at the same time slide the other foot from the second position into the fifth position behind; fall upon it, raising at the same moment the foot that is before, the point turned down, and the foot kept near the leg that is behind, the knees well turned outward.

The foot that is before being now disengaged, slide it on the point to the second position, bending at the same time on the other leg, in order to do the same step with the other foot, and so on alternately.”